Motion-art mechanical toy



Feb. 21, 195o J. Rg ALFONSO 2,498,476

MOTION-ART MECHANICAL TOY Filed May 29, 1946 2 Jg INVENTOR Joa-BPH R. ALFONSO Patented 'e). 2l,V- 1956 'oi-rice 2,498,476l MOTION-ART MECHANICAL TOY Joseph a. Alfonsjf New York, N; Y. f Application May 29, 1946, Serial No. 673,100`v (c1. 40-sm 5 Claims.

.This invention relates ie e mechanical toy kit and more particularly a toy through which pic,- tures .on a film can be exposed tothe vision of the operator in a step by step manner as a crank is turned to move the lm past an opening.

rIt is one object ofthe invention to provide, a toy by which films can be passed by a window, in intermittent fashion in which provision ismade for the removal, of the lm containing device from the main supporting casing whereby a new lm can be placed in the device.

It is another object of the invention to provide a toy for portraying a lm on which pictures are displayed. on both sides of the film and whereby upon removal of the mechanism containing the iilmv and reversing it Without removing the film, before returning it to the supporting casing, the pictures on the opposite side of the lm will be viewed.

It is another object `oi" the invention to provide inthe main support forthe film containing device, a principalpart of the power supplying gear-- ing in fixed fashion with which the film containing device Will engageupon being located in the support thereby keepingthe mechanism on the iilm containing device to a minimum.

It is still another ,object of theninvention to provide a picture displaying toy having a lightingY means used Withfilms of the transparent type with only the one set of pictures thereon which may be automatically controlled by the' insertion of lm device with the main support.

According to the invention, a mainv support or box is provided with a Window in the top thereof through which the films are to be observed. A film containing device is adapted to be inserted through one side of the main supporting box in much the same manner that a drawer would fit a chest. This film supporting device is a self contained structure bearing the nlm spools at opposite ends thereof between which the film is stretched and sets of rollers having teeth cooperating with the film to cause the passage of the same through the device and aligned with Windows in the device itself located respectively at the top and bottom of the device. This film containing device when opaque film is used with pictures on opposite sides thereof can be removed from the main support and'simply reinserted in a reverse manner to view the opposite side of the lm. Within the main support there is permanently carried a Geneva gear mechanism for obtaining intermittent motion when a friction plate on the film device engagesa friction plate forming part of the Geneva mechanism. A crank extends through the opposite side of the box from which the lm containing device is withdrawnloywhich the turning ,movement of the kGeneva mechanism is supplied by hand. A transmission drive is extended from the Geneva mecha-.

2 nism forv connection with the film spool 'onto which the .observed pictures are rolled. Also onthe-'main support is located a set of batteries and contacts which ,are automatically engagedy g. byzcontacts on the film device as it is fitted into.

the main support. If films of the transparent type are being used, a switch on the main supportI is kept closed to extend the current into the lm device containingthe lamps. i Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the main support; with the film containing device disposed thereiny with the arrangement set up for operation, the, mechanism being shown on the top of the device for retaining a .theme sheet on the top `of the. support having a Window in registry with theI main window in the top of the supporting casing. Fig. 2 isa perspective view of the theme sheet detached from the mainsupport. f A Fig. 3 is a sideI elevational View of the main support looking upon the side of the lm device, the view being taken along line 3 3 of Figjl,v looking in the direction of the arrows thereof.` A vFig. Lis a cross sectional view, Ain horizontal section with the top of the main support removed'I looking down upon the' yseparable lm device." The Geneva gear operating mechanism, the drive between this Geneva mechanism and one of the; lm spools and upon the batteries, are all viewed,l along the line 4`4 of Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is an elevational view looking'upon the*I principal parts ofthe Geneva gear mechanism.'V taken along the line`5-5 of Fig. 4, looking in 'the'A direction ofthe arrows thereof. Fig. Gisa" cross sectional view in elevation` of' the assembled'toy kit, viewed along the line 6-61 of Fig. 4,'looking in the direction of the arrowsf thereof. Referring now particularly vto the Figs. 1, `2 and 3, I0 represents the completely assembled kit which comprises generally amain support I I hav-i ing a top I2 with a picture viewing opening I3." therein and a hand crank' I4 for passing the 'pic'f-"i tures along the lopening I3. -At the side ofthe kit opposite to the crankA I4,=a nlm containing device l5 adapted to be'f supported on angle brackets I6 on the main support casingv II, in a manner so that it can bef' withdrawn from the' casing II, to insert a new film or to reverse the lm device so that pictures on the opposite side of an opaque lm can bei observed. A handle I'I serves to effect the vvith-i drawal movement of the lm device. 1.'. In order to makethe toy kitr bear `indicia .of which the picturesrelate, a theme'sheet I8 with paintings thereon and; having an opening I9 therein is laid on thertop I2 of the main support II so thatits opening I9 is in registry With thel opening I3. In order to retain the theme sheeti i8 in place there is provided spring fingers 2| .i slidable along a rod '22 mountedon the top ofthe main support so as to properly position the fingers on the sheet. Arslide switch element 23 o n the same side of the main support Il as the handle' I4 serves to cut in and out the battery source dependingiupon whether or not transparent iilrns with only 'one picture thereon-at a given location are being displayed. Y

Referring now particularly to Figs. 4, 5 and 6 there is shown in detail the ilm containing fdevice, and the mechanism associated with the main support by which intermittent driving motion is .given to the film device.

operating contact buttons 129 'and 30 at opposite sides of the main support -l l connected by dotted l'ns With the lamp 125 and Vvthe batteries 528. 'The switch 123 will turn voif thebattery i'source when opaque films having pictures Aon each side are being used. If -the double "lm is being used, the device "l5 is withdrawn and then inserted again in the main support so Ithat the window 2'1 isl 'aligned with the opening lI3 instead of the Window '26." 'At that time-the pictures on the reverse side of the film vcan be observed.

The film device I5 contains three sets of propelling'rollers 31,32 and`33 carriedby "sub frames and between which nlm y3'4 is drawn Vfrom one of lm spools l35 o1' 36 `randr driven over rollers 31 and 38 Vadjacent the `windows 26 and 21 to expose 'the different pictures of the "lm 34. Star pins are provided 'with each 'set of rollers "for cooperation with series'of "perforations at opposite sides 'of the nlm Aand bywhic'h a positive drive ci thefilm is effected. The iframe 'structure carries a friction plate 39 which "connects with a 'friction plate '4l 'of Geneva 'gear mechanism 42 of Athe main `'frame support. Likewise bevel '.pinions 43 and 44Yfor driving the respective spools 35 and 36 are located `at 'opposite ends of 'the,film .device. There Ais one bevel .gear at 'the left of the main frame support with which either lgear 43 or 44 will connect depending upon how the film device is inserted iin the ymain support. bevel gear 45 is carried on a shaftf46 driven by a spring .pulley belt 41 to .permit lslippage when necessary -and connected to a crank shaft 48 operated by the crank i4.. l y

The crank shaft 48A has a ypinion 49 .meshing with gear 5|- containing Geneva gear l.locking member 52 and pin 531.-- Thel pin y53 cooperates with slots l54 in the 'Geneva gear ypart 55 to turn the friction vplate intermittently -By engagement of the -iplate lil with the plate t 3B `of the nlm device central :roller unit 3-2 is' driven directly. Extending from this central unit are bandsor cha-ins 56 and 51 which will drive the t respective outer units .3l and-33. v

'claim as new, and desire to secure by United States Patent is:

1. A mechanical toy kit for displaying a set of pictures in consecutive order comprising a main supporting casing having atop wall, `a 'vertical partition separating said casing into a large and a small compartment, brackets in said large com- 'partment between said top and bottom thereof, said top wall having a viewing window in said large compartment, a film container in said large compartment supported on said brackets having a bottom wall and an open top, a film spool rotatably mounted at each of the opposite ends of said container, saidrcontainer being spaced from said partition and the shafts of said spools passing 4into -said space, agear on'each of said shafts, said shafts being on the horizontal center of said container, nlm guiding rollers arranged in offset pairs, one pair being directlyVv beneath and adjacent said window when said ycontainer is disposed with said'open top arranged upwardly, and the other pair being -directly beneathand adjacent said window when said .container is inverted with said open top arrangeddownwar'dly, said container bottom wall containing a viewing window between said other .pair of rollers, and alm driving mechanism mounted in said small compartment including l'a crank at'the outerrside o' the adjacenty casing side wall, a gear in lsaid lspace for meshing with either of Esaid'spoo'l gears depending upon the 'position of said container o'n said brackets, and a gear train lconnecting saidr gear in said space with said `crank whereby said nlm may be viewed from one side when said'container 'open top is upwardly 'and may 4be viewed from the other side When'said'containe'r open top is downwardly,through said casing window.

2..A mechanical toy kit Tier displaying a set of pictures yin consecutive `order comprising a kmain supporting `ca'sir'ighaving Iatop wall, ia Vertical partition separating saidfcasing into -a large and a small compartment, brackets in said large compartment between Asaid top and bottomy thereof, said top wall having a :viewing window fsaid large compartment, afiilm container in said n'large compartment suppc'rt'edo'n said 1brackets having a bottom wall and an 'openjto'p, a 'spo'dl rc tatably mounted at each of the opposite Vends 'of said container, said container vbeing spaced frm said .partition andv 'the snaits of Ysaid spools passing into said space, a gear on eacho'f saidsha'fts, said shafts being on the horizontal center of said container, nlm yguiding rollers farrllged in oilset pairs,y one pair being' directly 'beneath and adjacent said window when said container :is .disposed with said Aopen top arranged upwardly, :and

the other pair being directly beneath -.and ad-v said lfilm may be viewed trom :onelsid-e when 'said container open top is upwa'rdillyA and may be viewed irom the votherfs'ide w'hen said container open top is downwardly, through-said casing window, and ra vrfi-ight eetweeris'aid nist mentioned guiding iroliers rer lighting said kn1-n.1 iior viewing' when said container is disposed with its open top upwardly.

3. A mechanical toy kit for displaying a set of pictures in consecutive order comprising a main supporting casing of rectangular configura-v ing window in said large compartment, a filmr containing box in said large compartment supported on said brackets having a bottom wall and an open top, a film spool rotatably mounted at each of the opposite ends of said box, said box being spaced from said partition and the shafts of said spools passing into said space, a gear on each of said shafts, said shafts being on the horizontal center of said box, nlm guiding rollers arranged in oifset pairs, one pair being directly beneath and adjacent said window when said box is disposed with said open top arranged upwardly, and the other pair being directly beneath and adjacent said window when said box is inverted with said open top arranged downwardly, said box bottom wall containing a viewing window between said other pair of rollers, and a lm driving mechanism mounted in said small compartment including a crank at the outer side of the adjacent casing side wall, a gear in said space for meshing with either of said spool gears depending upon the position of said box on said brackets, and a gear train connecting said gear in said space with said crank whereby said film may be viewed from one side when said box open top is upwardly and may be viewed from the other side when said box open topv is downwardly, through said casing window.

4. A mechanical toy kit for displaying a set of pictures in consecutive order comprising a main supporting casing of rectangular coniiguration having a top wall, side walls, end walls, and a bottom wall, a vertical partition separating said casing into a large and a small compartment, brackets in said large compartment between said top and bottom walls, said top wall having a viewing window in said large compartment, a 'lm containing box in said large compartment supported on said brackets having a bottom wall and an open top, a film spool rotatably mounted at each of the opposite ends of said box, said box being spaced kfrom said partition and the shafts of said spools passing into said space, a gear on each of said shafts, said shafts being on the horizontal center of said box, lm guiding rollers arranged in offset pairs, one pair being directly beneath and adjacent said window when said box is disposed with said open top arranged upwardly, and the other pair being directly beneath and adjacent said window when said box is inverted with said open top arranged downwardly, said box bottom wall containing a viewing window between said other pair of rollers, lm moving mechanism including a toothed wheel and an untoothedv wheel between which said lm passes, disposed between said pairs of guiding rollers, and similar sets of toothed and untoothed wheels at the opposite sides of said'guiding rollers and connected to said iirst mentioned wheels by pulleys and means for turning said iirst mentioned Wheels, and a nlm driving mechanism mounted in said small compartment including a crank at the outer side or the adjacent casing side wall, a gear in said space for meshing with either of said spool gears depending upon the position of said box on said brackets, and a gear train connecting said gear in said space and said iirst mentioned wheels with said crank whereby said i'llm may be viewed from one side when said box open top is upwardly and may be viewed from the other side when said box open top is downwardly, through said casing window.

5. A mechanical toy kit for displaying a set of pictures in consecutive order comprising a main supporting casing or rectangular configuration having a top wall, side walls, end walls, and a bottom wall, a vertical partition separating said casing into a large and a small compartment, brackets in said large compartment between said top and bottom walls, said tcp wall having a viewing window in said large compartment, a nlm containing box in said large compartment supported on said brackets having a bottom wall and an open tcp, a film spool rotatably mountedr at each of the opposite ends of said box, said box being spaced from said partition and the shafts of said spools passing into said space, a gear on each of said shafts, said shafts being on the horizontal center of said box, iilm guiding rollers arranged in oiset pairs, one pair being directly beneath and adjacent said window when said box is disposed with said open top arranged upwardly, and the other pair being directly beneath and adjacent said window when said box is inverted with said open top arranged downwardly, said box bottom wall containing a viewing window between said other pair of rollers, and a film driving mechanism mounted in said small compartment including a crank at the outer side of the adjacent casing side Wall, a gear in said space for meshing with either of said spool gears depending upon the position of said box on said brackets, and a gear train including an intermittent driving wheel, said train connecting said gear in said space with said crank whereby said lm may be moved by definite increments and viewed from one side when said box open top is upwardly and may be viewed from the other side when said box open top is downwardly, through said casing window.

JOSEPH R. ALFONSO.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 872,840 Nelson Dec. 3, 1907 1,024,044 Tucker Apr. 23, 1912 1,223,270 Greer Apr. 17, 1917 1,295,544 McNeil Feb. 25, 1919 1,496,515 Beckett June 3, 1924 1,618,049 Blanchard Feb. 15, 1927 1,777,110 Summer Sept. 30, 1930 1,809,378 Eschenbach June 9, 1931 1,844,542 Cook Feb. 9, 1932 

